Kraft Initiates Recall of 36k Cases of Sliced American Cheese

Posted By Stephen Stewart || 7-Aug-2015

Kraft Heinz has released a public apology over its recall of 36,000 cases
of cheese. The food giant said that it deeply regretted the need to institute
the recall, and it apologized to the customers it let down, but the recall
had to be initiated for safety reasons. Thousands of pasteurized cheese
slices were recalled due to a choking risk.

The defect related to the cheese's packaging. When a consumer tries
to remove a processed cheese slice from affected packages, there is the
danger that a piece will remain stuck to the cheese and be consumed, which
could result in choking and death by suffocation.

Already, Kraft has received several reports of consumers choking on affected
cheese slices. Fortunately, no deaths or serious injuries were caused
by the incidents that have been reported so far.

The recall specifically affects Kraft Singles American and White American
pasteurized cheese slices, which are individually wrapped in plastic.
Part of the plastic has a problem of staying adhered, even though it appears
that all the plastic has been removed from the product. This can be confusing
to consumers and presents a significant risk.

The recalled cheese will show a "best when used by" date of anywhere
from Dec. 29, 2015 to Jan. 4, 2016. The cheese will also have the listed
manufacturing codes of either S54 or S55. Kraft is asking consumers not
to consume affected cheese slices, but to take them to the store where
they purchased them for a complete refund or exchange. The recalled cheese
packages were delivered throughout the entire United States, so it does
not appear that anyone is immune to this recall.

In the event that a consumer develops a serious or
catastrophic injury caused by choking on an affected slice of cheese, the person may wish
to consult with a legal professional to evaluate the possibility of seeking
financial restitution in court.